New Twitter developer display requirements, formerly just guidelines, specify how developers using Twitter's APIs must show tweets in their applications. Those requirements take effect Oct. 5, before other API changes that Twitter is also making.

For the record, Twitter has been unable to trademark the word "tweet" itself. However, this is because of other similar words already trademarked, and is not a reflection on whether a tweet itself is a unique invention. Below is part of their description of a tweet, click through to read the entire trademark application:

Unlike just text, there are specific actions associated with a tweet, which came from Twitter users inventing conventions themselves such as @replies and RT for "retweets" that were later incorporated into the application itself. Tweets also are connected to a specific user with an avatar photo, profile and location, and have a unique timestamp and ID.However, Twitter was initially developed as a way to essentially send group SMS -- simple text.

Several of those who replied to my question on Twitter agreed that in fact tweets are more than short bursts of text:

Sebastian KühnThanks for creating a story with nice insights in the Twitter world. Most of the terms we are using was apparently created by the Twitter community and not by...Thanks for creating a story with nice insights in the Twitter world. Most of the terms we are using was apparently created by the Twitter community and not by Twitter themselfmore2012-09-14T14:56:34.498Z